Folding cupcake box

ABSTRACT

A folding pastry box is provided having a folding lid portion that is hinged to a lower box portion. The folding lid has a window that extends between the lid portion and the lower box portion for viewing the contents of the folding pastry box. The lower box portion includes a pastry portion that is hinged and connected to the lower box portion. The folding pastry box can be folded flat and is stamped from a single sheet of stock. The box is then unfolded and the pastry portion is hinged and resides inside the lower box portion. The size of the pastry portion fits in the lower box snugly and is retained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/005,530, filed May 30, 2014, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This present disclosure relates to foldable boxes, specifically boxes that are intended to be shipped flat then folded into a container that can be self-supporting and used for securely carrying individual pastries. Folding boxes are well known in the art that are shipped flat and then unfolded before being used, commonly at a store or bakery. The box must be easy to open but be strong enough to carry baked goods and possibly tolerate being stacked. Proper storage and display of the baked goods assist the user in selecting the right goods from a display case or shelf. The box must tolerate handling and retain the baked goods. Many boxes attempt to solve this problem. Current foldable boxes are formed with several parts that need to be assembled, either at the manufacturing location or the point where the retail sale occurs. Some use a standard pastry box and add an insert. This requires that separate stock for the inserts be maintained. Further, several parts require assembly, creating issues with tolerances and proper assembly. An improved folding pastry box is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure describes a folding box for transportation and storage of pastries, specifically cupcakes. The box is formed from a single sheet of material with glue flaps and an integral pastry portion. A window is stamped through the material and a cellophane or similar transparent window is affixed. The box can be stored in a flat condition, allowing many boxes to be stored in a relatively small area. When the user needs to expands the box by folding up the perimeter walls and then folds the pastry portion towards the interior of the box. The pastry portion, being integral to the box folds in and becomes self-supporting. The size of the pastry portion creates an interference fit, securing the pastry portion to the bottom of the box without the need for any separate gluing, extra parts, or additional process steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a die-cut unfolded stamping of the box before it is assembled;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the stamping in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the stamping in FIG. 1 as partially assembled;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the stamping in FIG. 3 as further assembled;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the stamping in FIG. 4 as a completed box;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the box in FIG. 5 as fully complete and closed;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of pastry hole 20 in the stamping in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial isometric view 8-8 of the box in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a partial isometric view 9-9 of the box in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The blank 10 of FIG. 1 consists of a single die cut piece of cardstock. The die cut piece of cardstock has an inside surface and an outside surface. The outside surface is typically decorative with a different color or pattern but can also be plain. The inside surface can be different, but the blank 10 as shown in all FIGS is symmetrical, the inside surface and outside surface are interchangeable before assembly. For the purposes of clarity, the inside surface of the blank 10 makes up a majority of the surfaces on the inside of the box 8, FIG. 8 when it is completely assembled. The blank 10 has a bottom portion 16, a tray portion 30, and a lid portion 12 as shown in FIG. 1. All portions described herein are all part of the same die-cut piece. The bottom portion 16 is hinged to the lid portion 12 by a transverse crease 14. The top portion 12 has a window 18 that extends across transverse crease 14. The window is flexible enough that it will bend with the third transverse crease 14. Pastry holes 20 are also stamped through the tray portion 30 of the blank 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Creased, scored, or perforated lines are impressed into the blank 10 to create folds when one portion is bent over another.

The lower box portion 16 is located between the lid portion 12 and a tray portion 30, specifically between third transverse crease 14 and second transverse crease 58. The bottom portion 16 has a bottom 38 and is bordered by right and left sides 52 and 152, a connecting portion 28, and back 72. The bottom 38 is defined by the area between first transverse crease 56 and second transverse crease 58, and lateral creases second 66 and first 166. The bottom depth 80 is defined by the distance between first transverse crease 56 and second transverse crease 58. The width of the bottom 38 is defined by the distance between second lateral crease 66 and first lateral crease 166. The right and left sides 52 and 152 respectively extend laterally from bottom 38 via lateral creases second 66 and first 166. Right and left glue flaps 48 and 148 are portions of sides 52 and 152 respectively via perforated crease 50 and 150. Perforated crease 50 is obliquely angled from lateral and transverse creases extending outward from the intersection of second lateral crease 66 and first transverse crease 56. Perforated crease 150 is a mirror image of perforated crease 50, extending from the intersection of first transverse crease 56 and first lateral crease 166. Sides 52 and 152 have an outside radius 76 and 176 that facilitate closure of the lid portion 12. Sides 52 and 152 form upstanding walls when folded perpendicular with respect to the bottom 38. Another upstanding wall is formed when back 72 is folded about first transverse crease 56 with respect to bottom 38. The height of back 72 is the same as the width of sides 52 and 152. The angled perforated creases 50 and 150 reduce the effort of folding the glue flaps 48 and 148 with respect to the sides 52 and 152. The perforated creases 50 and 150 become hinges when the box is folded flat for shipping. The back 72 is attached to the bottom 38 via first transverse crease 56. The back 72 is defined by the distance between sixth lateral crease 68 and fifth lateral crease 168 and the height between third transverse crease 14 and first transverse crease 56. Extending laterally from back 72 through sixth lateral crease 68 and fifth lateral crease 168 are folding flaps 36 and 136 respectively. The outside surface of folding flaps 36 and 136 are adapted to receive glue.

The lid portion 12 has a top 22, a front 24 with right and left flaps 32 and 132, and right and left sides 26 and 126 with foldable glue flaps 40 and 140 respectively. The right and left sides 26 and 126 laterally extend from the top 22 via lateral creases fourth 70 and third 170 respectively. Creases fourth 70 and third 170 are formed to create a natural fold for sides with respect to the top during preliminary assembly. Glue flaps 40 and 140 are separated by perforated creases 44 and 144 respectively. Perforated crease 44 is obliquely angled from lateral and transverse creases extending outward from the intersection of fourth lateral crease 70 and fourth transverse crease 54. Perforated crease 144 is a mirror image of crease 44, extending from the intersection of fourth transverse crease 54 and third lateral crease 170. The right and left sides 26 and 126 form upstanding walls when folded perpendicular with respect to the top 22. The front 24 forms another upstanding wall when it is folded perpendicular with respect to the top 22 along fourth transverse crease 54. The angled perforated creases 44 and 144 reduce the effort of folding the glue flaps 40 and 140 with respect to the sides 26 and 126. The perforated creases 44 and 144 become a hinge when the box is folded flat for shipping. The front 24 is attached to the top 22 via fourth transverse crease 54 and right and left flaps 32 and 132 that are attached via eighth lateral crease 74 and seventh lateral crease 174 respectively. The lid portion 12 and structure is commonly known in the art. The outside surface of flaps 32 and 132 are designed to receive glue or other adhesive.

The tray portion 30 has a pastry portion 42 and is bordered by walls 28, 46, 146 and 34. The pastry portion 42 has a width defined the by the distance between tenth lateral crease 62 and ninth lateral crease 162. Although FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 9 show walls 46 and 146, these are not necessary, but serve to stabalize the pastry portion 42. It is contemplated that the side walls 46 and 146 are not present and the ninth lateral crease 162 and tenth lateral crease 62 are lateral edges. The pastry portion 42 may have a width defined by cut lateral edges representing the ends of the tray portion 42 located at the position of the ninth and tenth lateral creases 62, 162. The pastry portion 42 has a defined depth 80 as measured between fifth transverse crease 60 and sixth transverse crease 64. The side walls 46 and 146 extend outward laterally from the pastry portion 42 via tenth lateral crease 62 and ninth lateral crease 162 respectively and have the same depth as the pastry portion depth 82. The edges 49 and 149 and ends 45 and 145 of the sidewalls 46 and 146 are aligned with the fifth transverse crease 60 and sixth transverse crease 64. The connecting portion 28 is attached to the bottom 38 by second transverse crease 58. The pastry portion depth 82 is greater than the bottom depth 80. Connecting portion 28 has a height 29 which is defined by the distance between second transverse crease 58 and fifth transverse crease 60. Height 29 is the same as the width 47 and 147 of side walls 46 and 146 respectively. Wall 34 has a height 35 which is the same as height 29. When connecting portion 28 and walls 34, 46, and 146 are folded perpendicular to the pastry portion 42, the walls form a plane that is parallel to and offset from the bottom 38. It is further contemplated that the connecting portion 28 could include lateral tabs (not shown) that extend and lateral edges that are shown in the FIGS. would become lateral creases. One of the lateral tabs, for example, would be located between sides 146 and 152. The other lateral tab would be located between sides 46 and 52.

The pastry portion 42 contains a series of pastry holes 20. In the embodiment in all FIGS, six pastry holes 20 are equally spaced interiorly. The pastry portion 42 is not limited to pastry holes 20. The pastry holes 20 have an overall diameter 84 with optional points 86 and access areas 88, as shown in FIG. 7. The overall diameter 84 is sized to accept commonly available cupcakes or other related baked goods. The access areas 88 facilitate the retrieval of a cupcake from the pastry hole 20 by allowing the user to insert fingers through access areas 88 and lift the cupcake by the cup without touching the pastry itself. The points 86 help retain the cupcake during handling by protruding into the overall diameter 84 and pressing against corrugations in a cupcake cup.

The box 8 is assembled in two phases. As is visible in FIG. 2, a window of cellophane 92 or another flexible transparent material is adhered to the top 22 and back 72 overlapping the perimeter of window 18. The first phase of folding as shown in FIG. 3 is where flaps 32 and 132 are folded perpendicular to front 24 along eighth lateral crease 74 and seventh lateral crease 174 with the inside surface of 32 and 132 respectively toward the inside surface of front 24. Sides 26 and 126 are folded perpendicular to top 22 along fourth lateral crease 70 and third lateral crease 170 respectively where the inside surface of glue flaps 40 and 140 overlay outside surface of flaps 32 and 132. Front 24 is then folded perpendicular to the top 22 along fourth transverse crease 54 with the inside surface of 24 toward the inside surface of top 22. FIG. 4 shows this along with other steps of folding. Next, glue 90 is applied to either the inside surface of glue flaps 40 and 140 or the outside surface of 32 and 132. The adhesion takes place only between glue flaps 40 and 140 and the corresponding outside surfaces of 32 and 132. In FIG. 3, glue 90 is shown as applied to the outside surface of glue flaps 40 and 140. This affixes the outside surface of 32 and 132 to the inside surface of glue flaps 40 and 140 respectively. In order for the box to be folded flat for shipping and storage, the glued surface which defines a bonded area overlaps only the outside surface of glue flaps 40 and 140. The second phase of folding, as shown in FIG. 4, is where 72 is folded perpendicular to the bottom 36 along first transverse crease 56 with the inside surface of back 72 toward the inside surface of 38. Flaps 36 and 136 are folded perpendicular to back 72 along sixth lateral crease 68 and fifth lateral crease 168 with the inside surface of flaps 36 and 136 respectively toward the inside surface of 72. Next, glue 90 is applied to either the inside surface of glue flaps 48 and 148 or the outside surface of 36 and 136. The adhesion takes place only between glue flaps 48 and 148 and the corresponding outside surfaces of 36 and 136. Sides 52 and 152 are folded perpendicular to bottom 38 along second lateral crease 66 and first lateral crease166 respectively where the inside surface of 48 and 148 overlay outside surface of 36 and 136. This affixes the outside surface of 36 and 136 to the inside surface of glue flaps 48 and 148 respectively. In order for the box to be folded flat for shipping and storage, the glued surface overlaps only the outside surface of glue flaps 48 and 148.

To fold the box 8 flat for storage and shipping, flaps 36 and 136 are pulled inward, causing sides 52 and 152 to begin folding inward. Creases 50 and 150 begin to hinge and outside surfaces of side 52 abut glue flap 48. Correspondingly, side 152 abuts glue flap 148. This pulls back 72 inward such that the inside surface of 72 overlies the inside surface of bottom 38. For the lid to fold, flaps 32 and 132 are pulled inward, causing sides 26 and 126 to begin folding inward. Creases 44 and 144 begin to hinge and outside surfaces of side 26 overlies glue flap 40. Correspondingly, side 126 overlies glue flap 140. This pulls front 24 inward such that the inside surface overlies the inside surface of top 22.

After shipping, the box 8 is expanded and completely assembled by the end user. The bottom portion 16 is expanded by pivoting side 52 by second lateral crease 66 and side 152 by first lateral crease 166 outward, thereby bringing flaps 36 and 136 overlying 52 and 152 to form upstanding walls. This moves the back 72 substantially perpendicular to the bottom 38. Additionally, the lid portion 12 is expanded by pivoting side 26 by fourth lateral crease 70 and side 126 by third lateral crease 170 outward, thereby bringing flaps 32 and 132 overlying 26 and 126 to form upstanding walls. Front 24 then becomes substantially perpendicular to the top 22. Finally, sides 46 and 146 are folded about tenth lateral crease 62 and ninth lateral crease 162 along with wall 34 and connecting portion 28 to form upstanding pastry portion 42. The pastry portion 42 is folded inward towards bottom about second transverse crease 58 and fifth transverse crease 60 to make the inside surface of 38 parallel to and facing the inside surface of pastry portion 42. By folding the pastry portion 42 inward, sixth transverse crease 64 is brought into contact with the back 72. Because the pastry area depth 82, FIG. 1 is greater than bottom depth 80 the tray portion 30 fits tightly when it is fully assembled. This can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 when walls 46 and 146 protrude past the connecting portion 28 slightly. Because the connecting portion 28 is the same height as 34 and the same as the width of 46 and 146 but the pastry area depth 82 being greater than bottom depth 80 causes connecting portion 28 to be angled from vertical when the box 8 is fully assembled. Fifth transverse crease 60 is spaced farther from the inside surface of back 72 than second transverse crease 58. This means that wall 28 is located tightly behind edges 49 and 149 of walls 47 and 147 which provide lateral stability as walls 46, 146 are captured between 34 and 52, 152 respectively. This causes a tight fit, maintaining the tray portion 30 firmly nested in the interior of the bottom portion 16.

It is understood that while certain aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been shown and described, the disclosed subject matter is not limited thereto and encompasses various other embodiments and aspects. No specific limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred. Modifications may be made to the disclosed subject matter as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding pastry container for secure transporting and storage of a baked goods, said container having: a lower box portion with a bottom, said bottom having lateral edges located at a first and second lateral crease that define a width of said bottom, said bottom having first and second transverse creases extending between said first and second lateral creases to define a depth of said bottom, said bottom having lateral sides contiguously extending from said first and second lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said bottom, said lower box having a back contiguously extending from said first transverse crease and terminating at a third transverse crease, said back having lateral sides contiguously extending from a fifth and sixth lateral crease, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said back, said back foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said bottom and said lateral sides of said back being upstanding so said lateral sides of said back adjoin said lateral sides of said bottom when said back is upstanding with respect to said bottom; a lid portion with a top, said top having lateral edges located at a third and fourth lateral crease that define a width of said top, said top having depth defined by said third transverse crease and a fourth transverse crease, said top having lateral sides contiguously extending from said third and fourth lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said top, said top having a front extending contiguously from said fourth transverse crease, said front having lateral sides extending contiguously from a seventh and eighth lateral crease, said lateral sides of said front foldable with respect to said front to an upstanding position with respect to said front, said lid portion extending from said back from said third transverse crease, said front foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said top; a tray portion with a pastry portion having lateral edges located at a ninth and tenth lateral crease that define a width of said pastry portion, said pastry portion having a fifth and sixth transverse crease extending between said lateral creases to define a depth of said pastry portion, said pastry portion having lateral sides contiguously extending from said ninth and tenth lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said pastry portion to define sidewalls of said tray portion, said pastry portion having a connecting portion having a height defined by said second transverse crease and said fifth transverse crease, and a back portion contiguously extending from said sixth transverse crease and foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said pastry portion.
 2. The container of claim 1, said depth of said pastry portion being greater than said depth of said bottom.
 3. The container of claim 2, and an aperture through a portion of said back and said top extending between said back and said top.
 4. The container of claim 3, said second, fifth, and sixth transverse creases including perforations extending therethrough, said ninth and tenth lateral creases including perforations extending therethrough.
 5. The container of claim 1, and a hole in said pastry portion for receiving a pastry.
 6. The container of claim 5, said hole having protrusions extending inward and adapted to engage a portion of said pastry.
 7. The container of claim 1, said connecting portion facilitating hinged movement of said tray with respect to said lower box portion from a first position locating said sixth transverse crease adjacent to said back of said lower box portion and a second position wherein said sixth transverse crease is located outside of said lower box portion.
 8. A folding pastry container for secure transporting and storage of a baked goods, said container having: a lower box portion with a bottom, said bottom having lateral edges located at a first and second lateral crease, said bottom having first and second transverse creases extending between said first and second lateral creases to define a depth of said bottom, said bottom having lateral sides extending from said first and second lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said bottom, said lower box having a back extending from said first transverse crease and terminating at a third transverse crease, said back having lateral sides extending from a fifth and sixth lateral crease, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said back, said back foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said bottom; a lid portion with a top, said top having lateral edges located at a third and fourth lateral crease that define a width of said top, said top having depth defined by said third transverse crease and a fourth transverse crease, said top having lateral sides extending from said third and fourth lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said top, said top having a front extending from said fourth transverse crease, said front having lateral sides extending from a seventh and eighth lateral crease, said lateral sides foldable with respect to said front to an upstanding position with respect to said front to define sidewalls of said lid portion, said lid portion extending from said back from said third transverse crease, said front foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said top; a tray portion with a pastry portion having lateral edges that define a width of said pastry portion, said pastry portion having a fifth and sixth transverse crease extending between said lateral edges to define a depth of said pastry portion, said pastry portion having a connecting portion having a depth defined by said second transverse crease and said fifth transverse crease, and a back portion extending from said sixth transverse crease and foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said pastry portion.
 9. The container of claim 8, said lateral edges located at a ninth and tenth lateral crease, said pastry portion having lateral sides extending from said ninth and tenth lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said pastry portion about said ninth and tenth lateral creases.
 10. The container of claim 8, said connecting portion having lateral sides extending from lateral edges of said connecting portion.
 11. The container of claim 8, said depth of said pastry portion being greater than said depth of said bottom.
 12. The container of claim 11, and an aperture through a portion of said back and said top.
 13. The container of claim 12, said second, fifth, and sixth transverse creases including perforations extending therethrough, said ninth and tenth lateral creases including perforations extending therethrough.
 14. The container of claim 8, and a hole in said pastry portion for receiving a cupcake.
 15. The container of claim 14, said hole having protrusions extending inward and adapted to engage a portion of said cupcake.
 16. The container of claim 8, said connecting portion facilitating hinged movement of said tray with respect to said lower box portion from a first position locating said sixth transverse crease adjacent to said back of said lower box portion and a second position wherein said sixth transverse crease is located outside of said lower box portion.
 17. A folding pastry container for secure transporting and storage of a baked goods, said container having: a lower box portion with a bottom, said bottom having lateral edges located at a first and second lateral crease, said bottom having first and second transverse creases extending between said first and second lateral creases to define a depth of said bottom, said bottom having lateral sides extending from said first and second lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said bottom, said lower box having a back extending from said first transverse crease and terminating at a third transverse crease, said back having lateral sides extending from a fifth and sixth lateral crease, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said back, said back foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said bottom; a lid portion with a top, said top having lateral edges located at a third and fourth lateral crease that define a width of said top, said top having depth defined by said third transverse crease and a fourth transverse crease, said top having lateral sides extending from said third and fourth lateral creases, said lateral sides foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said top, said top having a front extending from said fourth transverse crease, said front having lateral sides extending from a seventh and eighth lateral crease, said lateral sides foldable with respect to said front to an upstanding position with respect to said front to define sidewalls of said lid portion, said lid portion extending from said back about said third transverse crease, said front foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said top; a tray portion with a pastry portion having lateral edges that define a width of said pastry portion, said pastry portion having a fifth and sixth transverse crease extending between said lateral edges to define a depth of said pastry portion, said pastry portion having a connecting portion having a depth defined by said second transverse crease and said fifth transverse crease, and a back portion extending from said sixth transverse crease and foldable to an upstanding position with respect to said pastry portion, said connecting portion facilitating hinged movement of said tray with respect to said lower box portion from a first position wherein said back of said tray portion engages said bottom and a second position wherein said bottom is located outside of said lower box portion.
 18. The container of claim 17, wherein lateral edges are formed from ninth and tenth lateral creases and include lateral sides extending from said ninth and tenth lateral creases. Said lateral sides foldable an upstanding position with respect to said pastry portion and said lateral sides engaging said bottom when said tray portion is in said first position.
 19. The container of claim 18, and a hole in said pastry portion for receiving a cupcake. 